This Week In Island History

The news of 10 and 15 years ago is from the Jamestown Press. The news of 100 years ago came from the collection of the Newport Historical Society.

100 years ago

From the Newport Daily News, Aug. 18, 1911

Practically every available cottage at Conanicut Park is filled to its last room for the month of August. The Seaside Cottage, for the shop girls of Providence, has been taxed to its full capacity since June. Besides the passengers left by the Providence boat, a number of excursionists have landed each week, making it the liveliest season at the Park for years.

Southwest and Walcott avenues have been sprinkled with oil to lay the dust. The work was done by the pressure sprinkler used by the State Board of Good Roads and is much more satisfactory than last year, when the same roads were oiled by a sprinkling cart.

75 years ago

From the Newport Daily News, Aug. 15, 1936

Much attention and favorable comment have been caused by the tercentenary markers, which have been erected at Two-Mile Corner and at the Jamestown Ferry. The arrangement at the ferry is smaller. There are two flagpoles with placards and in the center there is a large marker. The decorations face the ferry landing can be plainly viewed by all who come to the city on the boats from Jamestown.

At the Central Baptist Church the vacation church school, which has been conducted at the church for the past week, has been successful with an average attendance of 60. Thursday evening there will be an exhibition of the work that has been done and there will also be a pageant.

Down to the sea for fish is the slogan over in Jamestown these days and nights. With visions of baked stuffed bluefish in their eyes, mostly all of the fish-loving residents are trying their luck at Beavertail where the “blues” are running in great numbers. The fish run from seven to nine pounds as an average, and there is said to be a good market for them.

From the Newport Daily News, Aug. 19, 1936

A few minutes before 1:30 o’clock today, the giant dirigible

Von Hindenburg, flying at a low altitude, passed over Newport harbor en route to Lakehurst, N.J. The aircraft, making her seventh trans-Atlantic crossing, was ahead of schedule. Leaving Newport, the craft passed over Beavertail at such a low altitude that the passengers could be clearly seen from the land.

50 years ago

From the Newport Daily News, Aug. 19, 1961

The gross revenue of the Jamestown Bridge was off $854.44, or 3 percent for the first 17 days of August, as compared to the same period in 1960. The vehicle count for the same period was up 2500 for a four per cent increase in traffi c. The Ernest R. Vieira Co. has completed repair on piers, greasing and caulking joints and asphalting all expansion joints. Repair to the pavement has also been completed.

From the Newport Daily News, Aug. 23, 1961

The junior members of the Conanicut Yacht Club will have a bowling party tonight, at the Jamestown Bowling Lanes.

25 years ago.

From the Newport Daily News, Aug. 13, 1986

The Town Council passed a resolution Monday night that strengthened a 1975 town resolution giving local veterans’ organizations control over Veterans’ Memorial Circle at East Ferry. The referendum grants veteran groups a 10-year lease with a renewal option that prohibits use of the circle for anything “inconsistent with the spirit of the memorial.”

From the Newport Daily News, Aug. 14, 1986

A battle is looming between two state departments over the construction of a controversial ramp to the new Route 138 road that will connect the new Jamestown Bridge and the Newport Bridge. The ramp, which will funnel North Road traffic into the eastbound lanes of the new road, cuts across a portion of the Jamestown Brook wetlands.

15 years ago

From the Jamestown Press,

Aug. 15, 1996

Most local business people said the same thing when asked about how business is doing this summer: “Look at the weather.” Others said that business has been steady, but the customers and the items people are buying are different.

The Town Council voted Tuesday to spend up to $5,000 to have a professional appraiser determine the worth of the town-owned golf course both as a leased nine-hole course and as a piece of real estate.

The second annual Jamestown Island Paddle, a kayak race around most of Conanicut Island to raise money for the Jamestown Senior Center, takes off this Saturday, Aug. 17.

10 years ago

From the Jamestown Press,

Aug. 16, 2001

Beginning the week of Aug. 20, islanders will have an opportunity to recycle even more household items than they can now. In addition to the usual variety of bottles, cans, and newspapers, recyclable items will soon include old clothing, corrugated cardboard, and juice boxes.

Having commercial fishermen vessels dock at the town-owned wooden pier at East Ferry may not be in compliance with restrictions set by the federal Department of the Interior, which provided the town with the funds to construct the dock.